Refrigeration pump



June 30, 1964 o. N. PETERSON REFRIGERATION PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1959 I lrram/eys June 30, 1964 o. N. PETERSON 3,139,232

REFRIGERATION PUMP Filed Aug. 24, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 auner FILE E INVENTOR. 02w! 44 P876250 lrfoaways June 30, 1964 o. N. PETERSQN REFRIGERATION PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 24, 1959 ouch m HUN rm INVENTOR. 0x104: M Para/12:0

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United States Patent 3,139,232 REFRIGERATION PUMP Orville N. Peterson, 185 McCarron St, St. Paul, Minn. Filed Aug. 24-, 1959, Ser. No. 835,700 2 Claims. (Cl. 230-4118) This invention relates to an improvement in a refrigeration pump and more particularly to a regenerative turbine pump and is adapted for pumping a refrigerant to a much higher pressure than is possible with other commonly known like pumps such as centrifugal or radial flow types of pumps. This invention also relates to the use of oil under pressure as a lubricant and sealant in connection with said type of pump.

It is desirable to have a regenerative type-of pump embodying the use of a plurality of concentric channels for greatly increasing the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet point.

It is also desirable to have a regenerative type of pump embodying the use of a plurality of concentric channels arranged in series with the inlet in the outermost channel and the outlet in the innermost channel for a higher degree of pressure at the outlet point than could otherwise be produced.

It is further desirable in connection with a regenerative type of pump embodying the use of mating rotors and stators to have a fluid under pressure used as a lubricant and a sealant for the same.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a regenerative type of refrigeration pump comprising the use of a pluraltiy of concentric channels in parallel arrangement for producing a greater degree of pressure than would otherwise be possible.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a regenerative type of pump comprising a rotor in connection with a stator having a plurality of concentric channels therebetween respectively having inlets and outlets spaced about said channels, and said channels decreasing in dimension in a direction from the inlets toward the outlets thereof.

It is also an object of this invention in connection with the structure set forth in the previous object to provide oil under pressure to be used both as a sealant and as a lubricant between the rotor and mating stator and to provide a sump for the separation of the refrigerant from said oil.

It is another object of this invention to provide a regenerative type of pump comprising a rotor in connection with a mating stator having a plurality of concentric channels therebetween, said channels having a series arrangement having an inlet at the outermost channel and an outlet at the innermost channel for the production of a relatively high degree of pressure at the outlet.

It is a further object of this invention in connection with the structure set forth in the previous object to provide for a decrease in size of said channels respectively from the outermost to the innermost of said channels.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a regenerative type of pump comprising a plurality of rotors in connection with mating stators respectively having a plurality of concentric channels therebetween.

It is a further object of this invention in connection with the structure set forth in the previous object to provide for a self-contained hermetic unit comprising a source of oil and an oil pump to supply said oil under pressure as a sealant and lubricant.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in central, longitudinal, vertical section through applicants device;

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FIG. 2 is a view on a somewhat enlarged scale in vertical cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 as indicated by the arrows; I 1

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale in longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 as indicated by the arrows with a portion thereof broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical cross section of a modification of applicants device similar to the view in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale showing a detail of applicants sealing ring construction; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing a linear extension .of a channel and mating raceway construction.

Referring specifically to the drawings, like reference characters are used to indicate identical parts throughout the several views. Referring to FIGS. 1-3 a housing 10 is indicated. Said housing may be variously formed. In the embodiment of the invention as here disclosed it is indicated as being substantially cylindrical in form.

Said housing 10 is supported on an auxiliary housing or base portion 137 indicated as being substantially rectangular in plan having longitudinally spaced transversely extending wall portions 138, 139, 140, and 141. Said wall portions have their upper edge portions formed to receive and support the lower portion of said housing 10. Said wall 141 forms an end wall for said base portion 137 and said end plate removably secured to said housing 10 by screws 116 forms a closure for the other end of said base portion 137. Said base portion has a bottom plate 142 and side Walls 143 and 144.

Disposed in said housing is a plurality of rotors or impellers 13, 14 and 15. Said rotors may be variously formed and are here shown to be dual-faced and cylindrical in form and are secured to a shaft 177. Said rotor 13 comprises faces 18 and 19. Said face 18 has disposed therein a plurality of concentric channels 20, 21, and 22 indicated as being substantially semi-circular in cross section, and respectively radially spaced therein are vanes 23, 24, 25 of a commonly used construction.

Formed in said face 18, respectively, at each side of said channels 20, 21, and 22 is ,a plurality of sealing rings formed as annular grooved areas 30, 31, 32, and 33. Said channels 20, 21, and 22, respectively, diminish in circumference and in cross-sectional dimension. Said annular grooved areas correspondingly diminish in circumference.

Formed in said face 19, identical with the construction of said face 18, are channels 35, 36, and 37 having spaced therein vanes 39, 40, and 41.

Formed in said face 19 at either side of said channels 35, 36, and 37, identical with the construction indicated in face 18, are annular grooved areas 43, 44, 45, and 46.

Said rotors 14 and 15 are identical in construction in all details with said rotor 13. It is believed that further description of these rotors is not necessary.

Said rotors 13, 14, and 15 are in operative relation with mating stators 50, 51, 52, and 53. Said stators are substantially cylindrical in form and of somewhat greater diameter than said rotors. Said stators 50 and 53 at the outersides of said rotors 13 and 15 are single-faced. Said stators 51 and 52, respectively disposed between said rotors 13-14 and 14-15, are dual-faced. Said stator 50 comprises face 55 having formed therein a plurality of concentric raceways 56, 57, and 58, in opposed relation respectively with said channels 20, 21, and 22 in operative association to form an enclosed passage and having respectively spaced thereabout inlets in alternate relationship with outlets hereinafter to be described.

Said face 55 has thereon annular grooved areas 67, 68, 69, and 70 adapted for mating engagement or'rneshing with grooves 30, 31, 32, and 33 in said face 18.

q -11 Said stator 53 has face 73 which is a mirror image in all details of said face 55.

Said stator 51 comprises faces 75 and 76 respectively identical in construction with said faces 73 and 55 with said face 75 having concentric raceways '78, 79, and 8t) mating respectively with the channels in said face 19 in operative association to form an enclosed passage. Formed in said face '75 for respective mating engagement or meshing with said grooves 43, 44, t5, and l6 in said face 19 are grooves 82, 83, S4, and 85.

Said face 76 comprises a plurality of concentric raceways 87, 88, and 89 and has formed therein grooves 92, 93, 94, and 95.

Said stator 52 is identical in all details of construction with stator 51.

Said stators 50-53 are respectively secured in position by a'plurality of circumferentially spaced screws 1% threaded thereinto through adjacent portions of said housing 10.

Extending inwardly centrally of any one end 110 of housing is a hub portion 111 having mounted thereon a bearing support 112 here shown to be somewhat frustoconical in form and having a cylindrical base portion 112a having mounted therein bearing 113 in which the adjacent end 17a of said shaft 17 is journalled. Secured about said shaft 17 adjacent the inner end of bearing 113 is a collar 114 and secured to said shaft by screws 108 at the outer end of said bearing 113 is a retaining plate 119. Said collar and said plate limit the end play in said shaft 17.

Extending inwardly centrally of the other end 115 of said housing 10 is a hub portion 117 having disposed therein bearing 118 in which is journalled the adjacent end portion 17b of said shaft 17 with said portion 17b being somewhat reduced in diameter. Said end 115 is formed as a removable plate being secured to said housing by screws 116.

Disposed centrally in said stators 50-53 respectively are bearings 120, 121, 122, and 123 through which said shaft 17 extends and is journalled into.

Said shaft 17 may be variously driven by means within or outside of said housing 10. In the embodiment here disclosed there is provided mounted in said housing 10 adjacent to said end 1119, a motor 135 having its casing secured to said housing 10 by a plurality of screws 131 and having its rotor 132 secured to said shaft 17 whereby said shaft will be driven by said motor. Said motor is bers but is here shown comprising a pair of associated chambers as hereinafter described.

Said base portion 137 has formed therein between walls 138 and 139 a chamber 165. Formed between the outer side of said stator 50 and the end plate 115 is a chamber 166. Providing communication between chambers 165 and-166 is a plurality of passages 163 extending through the Wall 138. Said chambers 165 and 166 form a common sump 1713. Disposed in said sump 17%) and suitable for lubrication and sealing purposes is an oil 172. Adapted for said oil 1'72 to be fed into said oil pump 145 is an oil intake tube 173 having inlets 173a leading directly into said oil pump 145.

Extending centrally through hub 111 is a main inlet 175 for a suitable gas refrigerant 180, said inlet 175 communicating with transverse inlets 177 extending through the base portion 112a of said bracket 112 into chambers 178 formed at either side of said hub 111 be tween said end 110 of said housing 10 and the adjacent portion of said motor 130.

Leading from said chamber 178 is a plurality of principal passages 183 and additional passages 184 for passage of said refrigerant 180 into a chamber 186 formed between adjacent ends of said motor 130 and said stator 53.

Extending transversely through said stators 53, 52, and

, 51 and partially through stator 50 in diametrically opposed here indicated as being electrical, having conductors 134 being a common impeller type of pump provided with a relief valve 146.

Said oil pump 145 has extending therefrom oil passages 150 for communication with radial oil passage 151 disposed in said shaft 1'7 and in turn connected to the axially extending oil passage 152 in said shaft 17. Said passage 152 extends substantially the full length of said shaft. At either end of said passage 152 are radially extending passages 148 and 149 which respectively provide lubrication for said motor 139 and said oil pump 145. Said passage 152 communicates with radial oil passages 153, 154, and 155 of said shaft 17 which are respectively. aligned with radial passages 156, 157, and 158, of rotors 13, 14, and 15.

Said passages 156, 157, and 158 are respectively intersected by transversely extending passages 160, 161, and 162 which respectively communicate with the grooved areas in rotors 13, 14-, and 15 as previously described, there being respectively a plurality of passages 160, 161, and 162.

A sump is provided in connection with said oil pump for containing the oil used. Said sump may be variously formed and may comprise a various number of champositions are inlet passages 53a, 52a, 51a, and 50a, and connecting the same are connecting members 188 indicated here as being in the form of nipples to form continuous inlet passages 190 having communication with chamber 186. Extending centrally radially for a substantial distance through said stators 53-50 in communication with said passages 53a-50a respectively are passages 53b, 52b, 51b, and 5%. Connecting said passages 5312-5017 with the several raceways above described in said stators 53-50 are transversely etxending inlets 5301-3, 5201-3, 5101-3 and 5001-3 representatively indicated in FIG. 3. Said inlets 5301-3 through 5001-3 respectively are of the same transverse dimensions as the respective raceways with which they are connected whereby communication is provided between said raceways and said chamber 186 for the passage thereto of said refrigerant 180.

Extending through said stators 53-50 in diametrically opposed positions and respectively spaced from said inlets 196 are outlet passages 192. In the embodiment of the invention here disclosed said outlet passages 192 are in dicated as being spaced from said inlet passages 191 respectively approximately Said outlet passages 192 are identical in construction with said inlet passages 19!) and comprise transversely extending passages 50cm, SIM, and 52aa extending through said stators 50-52 and 53m extending partially through said stator 53 and connecting members 193 indicated here as being in the form of nipples. Extending radially substantially through stators 50-53 in communication with said passages 5iiaa-53aa respectively. are passages 5012b, 51bb, 52bb and 53bb. Connecting said passages 50bb-53bb with the several raceways above described in said stators 50-53 are the transversely extending outlets 50001-3, 51001-3, 52001-3, and 53001-3 representatively indicated in FIG. 3. Said outlets 50001-3 through 53001-3 respectively are of the same transverse dimensions as the respective raceways with which they are connected whereby communication is provided between said raceways and said chamber 166 for the passage therefrom of said refrigerant 180.

Said inlets and outlets above described may vary in number as to each raceway as may be desired. In the present embodiment of the applicants invention said raceways as indicated by raceways 56-58 are respectively indicated as having pairs of alternating inlets and outlets. Also as indicated in FIG. 6 there is shown a linear extension of raceway 56 of said face 55 and related channel 20 of said face 18 in which said raceway is indicated as diminishing in depth or, in other words in volume from said inlets 5001 in thedirection of said outlets 50cc1. At the sides of all outlets remote from their respective inlets are formed shoulders as indicated in FIG. 6 by shoulders 50:11 and in FIG. 2 by shoulders 51d1-51d3.

Overhanging said outlet passages 192 at an angle and secured to the inner side of said housing in a suitable manner are bafile plates 194.

Extending outwardly of said chamber 166 is a conduit 196 here provided with a shut oif valve 197. Said conduit 196 will extend to acondenser not here shown and not forming a part of applicants invention. Extending outwardly of said chamber 165 is a conduit 198 forming a gas outlet having a shut 01f valve 199 and which will extend to said condenser.

With reference to FIG. 6 the linear extension of a channel construction is shown indicating details thereof typical of all of the channel construction in the applicants device. For this purpose raceway 56 and channel of the mating faces 55 and 18 of stator 50 and rotor 13 respectively are shown comprising vanes 23, inlets 50c1, outlets 50cc1, and shoulders 50d1 between adjacent of said outlets and inlets. Said raceway 56 is shown diminishing in depth respectively in the direction from the inlets to the outlets and is here shown diminishing in depth from a point substantially centrally between said inlets and their respective outlets. Said shoulders 50d1 are of a height providing just sufficient clearance for said vanes 23 to pass thereby. As here indicated shoulders 50:11 respectively form the back walls for said outlets 50cc1.

Operation Commencing with applicants device in the position shown in FIG. 1 an adequate supply of oil 172 will be present in chamber 165 and will pass through inlet 173 into oil pump 145. Motor 130 will be activated to drive shaft 17 which operates said oil pump 145 supplying oil under pressure through passages 150 into passage 152 and through said passage 152 and the related radial passages in said shaft respectively through said passages 156, 157, and 158 and through their intersecting passagesas indicated into the grooved areas respectively connected therewith. More particularly with respect to rotor 13 driven by said shaft 17 and stator 50, said oil 172 will be fed under pressure of said pump 145 into the grooved areas 30, 31, 32, and 33. Said oil will act as alubricant between adjacent faces 55 and 18 respectively of said stator and said rotor and will also act as a cushion to absorb any oscillatory vibration which may develop in said rotor 13. Said oil under constant pressure provides a highly elfective sealing means to prevent loss of refrigerant from adjacent channels and raceways as will be hereinafter described.

From a suitable source not here shown a gas refrigerant 180 is provided entering into applicants device through inlet 175 and passages 177, 183, and 184 respectively into chamber 186 under low pressure for passage through the main inlets 190 into the respective raceways. Reference is made to FIGS. 1-3 for a detail of the passage of said refrigerant as to a portion of applicants device indicative of the operation of applicants entire device. Said refrigerant 180 will enter through inlets 51c1-51c3 of stator 51 through connecting passages as previously indicated to be impelled through raceways 78, 79 and 80 by vanes 39, 40 and 41 carried by said rotor 13 to impel said refrigerant in the direction of said outlets 51cc1-51cc3 with said raceways diminishing in depth in the direction of said outlets whereby said refrigerant is caused to attain an unusually high degree of pressure within a relatively short distance. Reference is made to FIG. 6 for a showing of the detail of a channel construction.

This operation takes place simultaneously throughout all the channels and raceways indicated for a discharge .of said refrigerant through both or either of the outlets 19 6 and 198 as may be desired. The diminution in the depth of raceways adds an unusual degree of efiiciency in developing a very high degree of pressure in the refrigerant at the point of discharge at the, outlet. The use of oil under pressure as a sealant at either side of each of the channels and raceways of applicants device in effectively preventing crossleakage of the refrigerant adds materially to the attaining of said high degree of pressure.

It, is obvious from the above description of the applicants device and the operation thereof that the respective raceways and their respective separate inlets and outlets are in a parallel ,arrangment.

As has been indicated applicants device is an improvement over similar devices in providing under constant pressure a sealant and lubricant between the adjacent faces of rotors and stators to prevent leakage of the refrigerant, to provide lubrication for the opposing faces, and to provide a cushion to absorb any vibratory action which may develop. The applicant has made a marked advance in thisart'in providing an oil pump to be used in connection with his apparatus for the purposes stated. The positive lubrication provided permits a higher speed of operation than would otherwise be practical and also permits the use of less exacting tolerances between mating faces respectively of adjacent rotors and stators in the operation with a resulting higher degree of efiiciency with a less expensive cost of construction and operation than would otherwise be possible. The lubricant under pressure forms an effective sealant and prevents leakage of the refrigerant from its channels and provides a positive separation between the high and low pressure stages of said refrigerant.

The use of applicants oil pump makes possible the efiicient operation of a multi-stage turbine type of refrigeration compressor wherein a plurality of concentric channels and raceways is provided. But for the use of applicants lubricant under pressure to act as a sealant as indicated the loss of refrigerant between the adjacent of said channels would be such that the operation of the device would be inefiicient to the point of being an undesirable one.

The lubricant as an eflicient sealant permits the refrigerant to be placed under an unusually high degree of pressure and permits an unusually high degree of acceleration of the pressure of said refrigerant from an inlet to an outlet and particularly in connection with a raceway construction diminishing in depth from the inlet in the direction of the outlet thereof.

Referring to FIG. 4 wherein is indicated a modification of applicants device, all parts identical in construction with those indicated in FIGS. l3 and 5 are indicated by the same characters with primes added.

The difference in construction of this modification is 7 that the several concentric raceways of each stator face are connected in series instead of being in a parallel arrangement as above described.

The structure in FIG. 4 is indicated as showing stator face 75 having the inlets communicating with the inlets 51c'1 of raceway 78' by means of passage 200. A

passage 201 connects the outlet 51cc1 of said raceway 78 with inlet 51c2 of raceway 79. Outlet 51cc2 of said raceway '79 is connected to inlet 51c'3 of raceway.

erant is discharged through the outlet 192 to do its Work. It will or course be understood that Various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, Without departing from the scope of applicants invention which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A refrigeration pump having in combination, an impeller comprising a plurality of concentric channels respectively having a plurality of spaced vanes thereabout, a plurality of concentric raceways in operativeassociation with said channels respectively forming enclosed passages therewith, an inlet and an outlet spaced about each of said raceways and being unobstructed therebetween, and each of said raceways diminishing in volume from a point inwardly of its inlet in the direction towards its outlet. V 2. A refrigeration pump havinng in combination, a housing, an impeller in said housing comprising a plurality of concentric channels respectively having a plurality of spaced vanes thereabout, a plurality of concentric raceways in operative association with said channels forming enclosed passages therewith,

- 1 said raceways each having a plurality of alternating inlets and outlets spaced thereabout and being unobstructed therebetween, and

each of said raceways diminishing in volume from a point intermediate each inlet and its respective outlet in the direction towards said respective outlets.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,731 Anderson Sept. 4, 1917 1,575,970 Carrier Mar. 9, 1926 1,748,979 Gunderson Mar. 4, 1930 1,793,903 Burgess Feb. 24, 1931 1,853,973 Hoffman Apr. 12, 1932 2 ,396,319 7 Edwards et a1. Mar. 12, 1946 2,727,679 Pica Dec. 20, 1955 2,730,954 Hornsh'ucha; Jan. 17, 1956 2,954,157 Eckberg Sept. 27, 1960 2,990,104 Pavlecka June 27, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 339,017 Germany July 13, 1920 387,766 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1933 425,652 Italy Oct. 10, 1947 504,353 France Apr. 12, 1920 

1. A REFRIGERATION PUMP HAVING IN COMBINATION, AN IMPELLER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC CHANNELS RESPECTIVELY HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED VANES THEREABOUT, A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRIC RACEWAYS IN OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH SAID CHANNELS RESPECTIVELY FORMING ENCLOSED PASSAGES THEREWITH, AN INLET AND AN OUTLET SPACED ABOUT EACH OF SAID RACEWAYS AND BEING UNOBSTRUCTED THEREBETWEEN, AND EACH OF SAID RACEWAYS DIMINISHING IN VOLUME FROM A POINT INWARDLY OF ITS INLET IN THE DIRECTION TOWARDS ITS OUTLET. 